Related Content

When many think of the American flag, they think of Ross, but on the corner of Albemarle and Pratt Streets is the home and historic site that once belonged to Mary Pickersgill, who made the Star Spangled Banner Flag.

"Mary Pickersgill lived during the War of 1812, which is when the flag was created. The flag that inspired the national anthem had nothing to do with Betsy Ross," said Flag House executive director Annelise Montone.

The exhibit, called Family of Flag Makers: Women Who Created the Star Spangled Banner, begins with artifacts from the battlefield and is the first exhibit to tell the real story of Pickersgill and her household.

Pickersgill was a widow and a rare female entrepreneur who was commissioned to make what would become the most famous flag in U.S. history.

"George Armistead was put in charge of Fort McHenry early in the summer of 1813, and he commissioned Mary to make a flag essentially so large that the British could see it as they floated up the Patapsco River in view of Fort McHenry, because they knew they were going to eventually bombard the city," said exhibit curator Amanda Davis. "The stars on this are a little bit unique in that they kind of stand on their point. Whether that was a design that Mary came up with herself, we're unsure."

At the site, visitors can see artifacts from the time, including the original receipt for the flag and pieces of the flag itself.

"You'll also learn a lot about the time period, domestic life during that time. We hear a lot about war time, but we don't really hear about what ordinary people were doing in homes -- what did they have, what did they look at, what did they touch," Davis said.

The interactive exhibit is on permanent display at the Flag House in downtown Baltimore.